CLEARWATER, Fla. — Wasn’t it just yesterday that Blue Jays pitchers and catchers reported to TD Ballpark? (Actually, it was three weeks ago when they had their first official workout.) Isn’t opening day just around the corner? (Actually, it was still three weeks on Thursday.) The long and winding road that is baseball spring training has essentially reached the grind phase with some 65 players still in camp, though first cuts are expected soon. There are still 20 games remaining in the seemingly endless parade of exhibitions to satisfy the zenith of snowbird season, including a pair against the Yankees at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. We’re all for looking ahead, however, and given it has been a largely uneventful camp (save for the electric debut of pitcher Nate Pearson), we’re reasonably confident at taking a stab at pencilling in the opening day roster. The asterisk with this exercise, however, is that there are still three weeks remaining and much could change. For the most part, however, here’s a projection as to what the Red Sox will see March 26 when new ace Hyun-Jin Ryu takes the mound:

STARTERS

Hyun-Jin Ryu

The undisputed ace of a rebuilt rotation will get the ball from manager Charlie Montoyo when the Jays open the 2020 campaign. Ryu has been a workhorse and a consummate pro at his first American League training camp, early on at least, living up to the advance billing.

Tanner Roark

A nasty flu bug delayed his work at camp, but Roark eased into action Thursday in Clearwater, pitching a decent two innings, striking out a pair, while walking two and allowing a home run. The Jays signed the veteran to a two-year, $24-million US deal, expecting him to be a big innings-eater.

Matt Shoemaker

Back and feeling strong following his 2019 season-ending knee surgery, if Shoemaker returns to the form that he flashed in his five starts before getting hurt, he could become a huge factor in a potential turnaround for the team.

Chase Anderson

The first off-season addition to the rotation has had two starts thus far — one that went well, one not so much. It’s early, though, and as Anderson himself said, don’t judge the results until he gets deeper into the exhibition season.

Trent Thornton

The man who threw the most innings for the Jays in 2019 — as a rookie — is the early front-runner for the fifth starter’s spot. If he continues to pitch the way he has, it’s his to lose. Give Shun Yamaguchi and Anthony Kay an outside shot (though Kay was hit hard Wednesday and Yamaguchi gave up three homers Thursday.) Ryan Borucki continues to work his way back from elbow tightness.

Travis Shaw of the Toronto Blue Jays hits an RBI single off of Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Spectrum Field on March 05, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida.Julio Aguilar /
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INFIELD AND DH

First base

Travis Shaw is the clear front-runner to log the most time at the spot vacated by Justin Smoak. A leap of faith by the front office that he’ll return to his batting form from a couple seasons ago, the former Brewer is expected to shuffle over to third at times.

Second base

In Montoyo’s mind (and he has said this multiple times for emphasis), Cavan Biggio is the everyday guy at second base. That said, he isn’t afraid to sprinkle the versatile sophomore around the infield and outfield

Shortstop

Overshadowed by Bo Bichette’s success at the plate in his scintillating debut was his excellent work defensively. Bichette took it personally when some questioned his defensive game and moved like a proven veteran in his rookie year. Even better, he’s a true everyday guy who wants to play all 162 games if the manager would let him.

Third base

Vlad Guerrero Jr. is back with a slightly retooled body (though not much) that he’s hoping will have him play lighter on his feet and thus cut down on his team-leading 17 errors from 2019. The team is committed to him being the main guy at the hot corner, but Shaw will take some days there when Guerrero slides to the DH spot.

Designated hitter

This spot is shaping up as a musical-chair spot with no prototypical DH on the roster. Rowdy Tellez could log some significant time there, but we’re expecting Montoyo to give Guerrero and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez time there as well.

Next men up

Tellez, Joe Panik and Brandon Drury all figure to be in the battle for defensive bench strength with one likely ending up as the odd man out. Panik has certainly helped his cause by getting on base in seven of his last nine plate appearances.

CATCHERS

Danny Jansen

Montoyo acknowledged that there will be a platoon at backstop, but based on his experience, Jansen may have the slight edge in playing time. Of course, that could be altered by performance at the plate.

Reese McGuire

Like Jansen, he’s caught most of the big pitchers in camp. The Jays like the tandem and they like the fact that he hit .299 last season over his 97 at-bats.

OUTFIELD

Centre field

When Randal Grichuk broke into the majors full time in 2015 with the Cardinals, he started at centre. But injuries and some questioning of his defensive metrics shuffled him to right, where he has played the majority of his games in the majors. With no off-season acquisitions for the middle outfield spot, it’s Grichuk as the captain out there. He said he’s up for the challenge and comfortable with the assignment.

Left field

One of the better stories of 2019 was Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s emergence as a stalwart on the left side after melting down as an infielder. He continues to grow in confidence and considering how the Jays love having his bat in the lineup, it’s been a large development.

Right field

Perhaps the most beleaguered Jays outfielder over the last couple seasons, Hernandez will attempt to prove that he can be relied on to not be a defensive hot mess. He showed signs of stability last season and needs to build off that.

Extras

Derek Fisher, acquired in the deal that sent Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini to Houston, will join Anthony Alford and possibly Anthony Davis in the battle for backup spots.

BATTING ORDER

1. Bo Bichette

Seasoned at the plate as a rookie. Great eye. Big numbers.

2. Cavan Biggio

Struggled at times, but when the umps weren’t messing with the strike zone, he used that keen eye to draw walks.

3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Montoyo likes him hitting before Guerrero. Vladdy does, too.

4. Vlad Guerrero Jr.

A natural cleanup man, the hope is his late-season slip is behind him. He hit a mammoth homer Thursday, his second of the spring.

5. Travis Shaw

If he can forget his terrible 2019 at the plate, the Jays may have a relative steal in this free-agent signing.

6. Teoscar Hernandez

Could be moving parts at this spot in the order, but he should be close to this spot.

7. Rowdy Tellez

If he hits with the power he’s shown and continues with a better approach at the place, he could move up, obviously.

8. Randal Grichuk

Committed to avoid another slow start, adjusted his plate approach as well and hopes to tear it up like he did in the final two months of last season.

9. Danny Jansen

He’s not known for his bat, but does have some power, as evidenced by his two spring homers.

BULLPEN

Ken Giles

He’s the closer, full stop.

Anthony Bass

Has turned some heads at camp and should get some high-leverage spots.

Sam Gaviglio

Was a huge innings-eater last season and will be relied upon for that again.

Shun Yamaguchi

Still in the running for a starter’s spot, but could end up in the ’pen.

Wilmer Font

Would seem to be a sure thing based on his velocity and some solid work at times last year.

Jordan Romano

The hard-throwing Canadian has had a good enough camp to be in the mix.

Rafael Dolis

Was considered a sure thing to start the season in the ’pen and will get there eventually. But the team announced Thursday that he had surgery to have his appendix removed. As it stands, there’s likely two more spots up for grabs.

ROARK READY TO EAT INNINGS

Tanner Roark knows why the Blue Jays acquired him in the off-season — and he’s proud to wear that badge.

Get outs, of course — but also to eat innings.

After having the start of his spring interrupted by a nasty flu bug, the free-agent pickup saw his first action in a Jays uniform on Thursday, logging two innings in his new team’s 5-3 loss to the Phillies at Spectrum Field.

“Stability. Durability. I feel like I can take on more of a veteran leadership to help guys out,” Roark said after allowing two hits, including a home run to the Phillies’ Roman Quinn, while also striking out two in his debut. “This team is super-young. I want to get better and to help them get better.

“I’ll just speak the truth to them and not try to blow smoke.”

A straight shooter, Roark signed a two-year, $24-million US deal to come to the Jays, where he figures to slot behind ace Hyun-Jin Ryu in the rotation. The innings-eater tag comes honestly: In 2016, the 33-year-old logged a whopping 210 innings with the Nationals.

“I’m older and I’ve got a lot of mileage on me, so I want to use what I have and be great at what I’m good at, is the main thing,” Roark said. “Not try to overdo it. I’ve worked on stuff this off-season to throw harder and feel stronger so, hopefully, the durability can last the whole season.”

Roark admits he wasn’t expecting much on Thursday beyond shedding the rust and re-acquainting himself with a big-league mound.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t such a good outing for Japanese free-agent signee Shun Yamaguchi, who allowed five hits including three home runs in his 2.1 innings of work.

The undisputed highlight of the game was a sixth-inning home run by the Jays’ Vlad Guerrero Jr., his second of the spring. The blast cleared the wall in left and completely left the park.

AROUND THE BASES

Jays reliever Rafael Dolis will be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time after having emergency surgery to have his appendix removed on Tuesday. Dolis, who is one of the leading candidates to be a fixture in the bullpen, will be shut down completely for at least a week. “Somebody else gets a chance,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “That’s how it works in baseball.” … Montoyo said top prospect Nate Pearson will get his next work on Saturday against the Red Sox down in Fort Myers. Pearson has yet to allow a hit in three innings of spring work, striking out six in the process. Trent Thornton gets the start in that one … Up next: The Jays face the Pirates at TD Ballpark on Friday. Chase Anderson gets the start.

Bill Buford spoke about moving to Lyon with his family for a year to write Dirt, and then staying five, about their lives now in New York, and the future ...

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